Phonograph



April 21, 1942. B. R. cARs N PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 1'7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 21, 1942.

B. R. CARSON PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1938 @Q R 9 m WQN April 21, 1942. B. R. CARSON 2,280,685

PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 21, 1942. B. R. CARSON PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 21, 1942 PHONOGRAPH Benjamin B. Carson, Camden, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,299

3 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs, and

more particularly to an automatic phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are supported above the turntable to be successively lowered onto the turntable for playing.

v The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph of the type specified which may be operated either automatically, to reproduce a plurality of records in succession without interruption and without attention on the part of the user after having once been set into operation, or which may, at will, be operated manually to reproduce a single record at a time.

More particularly, it is an object of my present invention to provide an improved automatic phonograph as aforesaid which will incorporate simplified record supporting and record releasing structure.

Another object of my present invention is provide an improved phonograph of the type specified, which, while adapted to play records of apredetermined sizeautomatically, will also play records of a larger size manually.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph as aforesaid which can very easily be changed from an automatically operable machine to a manually operable machine, and vice versa.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph of the type described which, when operated automatically, will transfer but one record at a time from the stack to the turntable.

Still a further object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph of this type which, when operated automatically and once set into operation, will continue to operate indefinitely, or as long as power is supplied thereto, and with a minimum time interval between the end of playing of one record and the commencement of playing of the next record.

An additional object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph of the type set forth which is compact and may be housed in a cabinet within a very small space.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide an improved phonograph as aforesaid which is extremely acqurate and eflicient in operation, which comprises a minimum number of parts, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

According to one form of my present invention, 1 provide a pair of record supporting posts at diametrically opposite points relative to the turntable, the posts extending upwardly from a suitable supporting plate a distance sufllclent to suprecord supporting posts is stationary on the supporting plate and has a ledge thereon which is inclined downwardly toward the other record supporting post, the lowermost record of the stack resting on said ledge and being biased thereby toward the second record supporting post. The latter record supporting post is rotatably mounted on the supporting plate for rotation bodily relative to the record stack, and it is provided with a record supporting shelf which has a portion thereof cut away and past which the lowermost record of the stack can drop when the post has been rotated sufficiently. A separating cam overlies the cut away portion of the rec- 0rd supporting shelf on the rotatable post and is spaced from said shelf a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a record. The record supporting shelf and the separating cam are so arranged on the rotatable post that, when the post is rotated in a predetermined direction, the separating cam wedges its way in between the lowermost record of the stack and the next lowest record and, together with the inclined ledge on the stationary post, supports the remaining records of the stack while the lowermost one is released to drop onto the turntable by gravity.

The stationary post is provided with a bend therein along its length and is so mounted on the supporting plate that its lowermost, or base, portion is at a greater radial distance from the tumtable than is its uppermost, or record supporting, portion. The rotatable post is also removably mounted on the supporting plate. Whenit is desired to play a 12 inch record, the rotatable post is removed from its operating position and, because of the greater radial distance of the lower portion of the stationary post from the turntable, the 12 inch record can be readily accommodated upon the tumtable. Locating means for the pickup arm is provided to insure location of the needle at the starting point of either a 10 inch or a 12 inch record, and a suitable index device is provided to set the locating means for proper location of the needle, depending upon which size record is to be played.

A plurality of records are stacked on the record supporting posts over the turntable and concentrically therewith when they are threaded on the spin le, a record fi st be ng p aced upon t e turntable. The pickup arm may then be placed manually in the starting groove of the record on the turntable and that record played. When the needle reaches the spiral terminal groove, which is of much greater pitch than the music groove, a. suitable tripping mechanism is caused to operate whereby the pickup arm is raised from the record and swung clear of the turntable. Immediately thereafter, the lowermost record of the stack is released by the rotatable record post to permit it to fall onto the record previously played, after which the pickup arm is swung inwardly and lowered onto the starting groove of the new record. After the entire repertoire of records has been played, the automatic cycle continues and the last record is repeated, whereby an audible signal is provided to indicate the completion of the repertoire. A reject device is also provided to permit rejection of any record that it is not desired to have played.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved phonograph set to play inch records and with the parts in the position at the beginning of playin of a record, a

Figure 2 is a similar view, but showing the position of the parts just after the record changing portion of the automatic cycle has been initiated,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts just after a new record has been released onto the turntable,

Figure 4 is a partly sectional and partly elevational view taken along the line IV,IV of Fig. 1,

Figure 5 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow V-V of Fig. 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts adjusted to play 12 inch records,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the movable record post,

Figure 8 is a sectional View of the movable record post taken on the line VIII-4TH of Fig, 1, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout, I have shown a supporting plate or a motor board l supporting a motor 3 which drives a spindle 5 having a cylindrical portion 5a of substantially the same diameter as the center openings in conventional records and terminating therebeyond in an elongated, gradually tapering portion 5b the upper end of which has a diameter considerably smaller than the portion 5a. The spindle 5 supports a turntable I which is driven through its hub 9 from a cross pin I l extending through the spindle 5, and it extends up from the plate I to apoint above the uppermost of a stack of records R supported at a point elevated with respect to tion So having a height equal at least to the total thickness of the maximum number of records which can be supported above the turntable.

automatic operations. sleeve ll mounted for rotation on a stub shaft l9 fixed to the motor board I, and it supports'a Fixed to the spindle or motor shaft 5 is a gear l3 which continuously drives a gear IS, .the latter gear acting as a control device for effecting operation of the parts to carry out a cycle of The gear I5 is staked to a cam member 2| on the under side thereof. The cam member 2i is also mounted on the sleeve l1 and is 'in the form of a cylindrical cup-shaped member having a flat face 2la slightly spaced from the bottom face of the gear I 5 by a suitable washer and a downwardly extending peripheral flange 2 lb which is broken away at 2|c for a purpose hereinafter described, the control cam 2| being locked to the gear l5 so that both will rotate in unison and so that the depending flange 2lb will function as a cam relative to the axis of rotation of the control gear l5.

Pivoted at 23 to the underside of the motor board or supporting plate I through a sleeve 24 to which it is staked or otherwise suitably secured is an actuating member 25 comprising a lever having a pair of lateral extensions 25a. and 25b and a pair of oppositely extending arms 25c and 25d. A roller 21 is mounted on the extension 25a for cooperation, as a cam follower, with the inner surface of the flange 2 lb whereby the cam member 2! is adapted to impart rotation to the actuating lever 25 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 23. Return of the lever 25 to its normal position is effected by a coil spring 29 having one end thereof connected to a pin 3! which is fixed to the underside of the supporting plate I and the other end thereof connected to a pin 33 which extends upwardly from the end of the lever arm 250, the spring 29 insuring contact between the follower 21 and the flange 2!?) during movement of the actuating lever 25 and its associated parts. A rubber block 38 carried by a bracket 32 which is adjustably mounted on the plate 1 serves as a stop device for limiting the clockwise movement of the'lever 25 inresponse to the spring 29 when a roller 28 on the lever 25 engages the block 30, as shown in Fig. 1. Being preferably made of soft rubber, the block 30 also acts as a damping member or shock absorber for absorbing mechanical shock of the lever 25.

Pivoted at 34 to the under side of the motor board l is a substantially C-shaped cable lever 35 having a downwardly ofiset portion 31 apertured for the reception of an adjustable eye bolt 39 to which one end of acoil spring ll is secured. A cable 33, having one end thereof secured to the other end of the coil spring, passes around a guide roller or pulley 45 mounted ona bracket 47 and through an opening in the motor board I, being secured at its other end to a pickup arm or the like support 49 having a sound reproducing instrumentality 5| carrying a reproducing stylus 53.

The cable lever 35 is provided with two substantially parallel inner side portions 35a and 35b, the latter terminating in acam edge 35c.

.Upstanding from the. arm 25d of the actuating the slack in the cable 43, and then to exert a pull on the pickup arm 49 to raise the pickup above the played record, the pickup arm 49 being held in raised position as the pin 55 rides over the cam edge 35c upon continued movement of the actuating lever 25 in response to the cam flange 2|b.

The pickup arm 49 is pivotally mounted on a supporting post 51 which is carried in a bushing 58 mounted on the supporting plate I and extends through the bushing 59 below the plate I, the bushing 58 and post 51 being inclined from the vertical about 3 toward the turntable 1, Secured to the lower end of the post 51 is a collar 59 (Fig. 4) from which extends an arm 9| having a downwardly extending pin 63 thereon. Pivotally mounted on the underside of the plate I on a pin 85 is a trip lever 81 having oppositely extending arms 61a and 61b, the latter-of which is forked for'the reception of the pin 63, and a laterally extending arm 510 formed with a cam edge 61d. Immediately after the pickup 5| has been raised from the played record as above de-' scribed, continued movement of the actuating lever 25 in'a counter-clockwise direction under influence of the cam flange 2|b brings the pin 33 into engagement with the cam edge 51d and causes-the lever 81 to rotate clockwise, thereby a returned and lowered onto the next succeeding record for playing. One arm of the lever 1| is formed with two notches 13 and 15, the former for determining the 10 starting position and the latter for determining th 12" starting position. A coil spring 11, connected at one end to a pin 16 on the lever 1| and at its other end to a pin 18 on the plate I, constantly biases the lever 1| in a clockwise direction for engagement of either of the notches 13 or with a downwardly extending pin 19 on an index lever 8| at this time, the pin 99 is in the path of the cam edge 91, as shown in Fig. 2, and is engaged by the cam edge 91. Upon continued movement of the actuating lever in a counter-clockwise direction, the pin 33 eventually engages the cam edge 61d and, riding 'thereon, forces the trip lever 61 around in a clockwise direction which, in turn, rotates the arm 8| and its associated pickup arm 49 in a counter-clockwise direction clear of the turntable, as previously described. During this clockwise movement of the trip lever 61, the pin 99 passes the cam edge 91, which permits the spring 89 to pull the detent lever 81 into the position shown in Fig. 3 and thus lock the pin 99 between the edge 1|a of the locating lever 1| and the right-hand edge of the U-notch 95 on the detent lever 81.

After thecam follower 21 on the actuating lever 25 has reached the high point on the cam flange 2|b, the actuating lever 25 begins-its rev turning the arm 6| and its associated pickup arm turn, or clockwise, movement under the influence of the spring 29. This causes the pin-33 to ride back along the cam edge 61d and to eventually recede therefrom, and as soon as this takes place, the coil spring 11 causes the locating lever 1| to rotate in a clockwise direction. In turn, the edge 1|a of the locating lever 1| acts on the pin 99 to rotate the trip lever 61 in a counter-clockwise direction to'thereby return the pickup arm 49 to a position over the new record. The starting point of the needle 53 is determined when, for 10" records, the notch 13 has engaged the pin 19, so that the rotating lever 1| cannot rotate further in a clockwise direction and therefore stops rotating the lever 61, the arm 6| and the pick-up arm 49., Eventually, the spring 29 pulls the actuating lever 25 back to a position such which is pivotally mounted on the underside of the plate. I and has an operating handle 83 extending up througha slot 85 in the plate I.

A detent lever 81 having arms 81a and 81b is pivotally mounted on the locating lever 1| and is also constantly biased in a clockwise direction by a coil spring 89 whichhas one end thereof connected to a pin 9| on the locating lever 1| and its other end connected to a pin 93 on the detent lever 81. The arm 81b is provided with a U- shaped notch 95 and an adjacent cam edge 91, and the notch 95 is so located thereon that, when the detent lever 81 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the right-hand edge of the notch 95 (as viewed) is spaced from the edge portion 1|a of the lever 1| a distance Just suflicient to accommodate an upstanding pin 99 on the trip lever arm 61a.

Normally, that is,'during playing of a record, the pin 33 on the actuating lever 25 is in engagement with the detent lever arm 81a to hold it in the position shown in Fig. 1. After the needle has entered the record terminal groove and the actuating lever 25 begins its counter-clockwise movement, the pin 33 gradually recedes from the detent lever arm 81a and the spring 89 tends to pull the detent lever 81 into the position shown in Fig. 3. However, the spring 89 cannot pull the that the pin 33 engages the arm 81a of the detent lever 81, thereby turning the lever 81 about its pivot in a counter-clockwisedirection and thus freeing the pin 99 from between the edge Na and the cooperating side of the U-notch 95, so that the pickup is then free to continue its movement across the record. During all this time, the pin 55 has been riding onthe cam edge 35c of the cable lever 35, and just after the pin 99 has been freed, the pin 55 rides back down along the edge 35b of the cable lever and back to its normal, or rest, position, whereupon the pickup arm is lowered onto the new record in correct starting position. The inclination of the post 51 toward the turntable 1 as above described insures the needle 53 sliding into the startinggroove of the new record.

For a 12 record, the index lever 8| is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6. The action in locating the pickup at the proper starting point on a 12 record is similar to that previously described for a 10 record. Inasmuch as the notch 15 is farther from the edge Nb of the locating lever 1| than is the notch 13, it will be obvious that, when the index lever 8| is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the spring 11 will not be able to pull the lever 1| through as great an angle in a clockwise direction as it does when the pin 19 is in the path of the notch 13. Accordingly, it follows that the lever edge 1|a will not push the trip lever 61 as far around in a counterclockwise direction, and therefore the arm 6| and the pickup arm 49 will not be moved inwardly toward the turntable as great a distance as for the 10'' record. Adjustment of the parts for correct starting position on either size record may be made by loosening the screw Hill which holds turntable in a radial direction by means of a bolt.

I05 slidably received in an elongated slot I01 in the plate I (Figs. 1 and 4), if desired. In any event, once its position is determined, it remains stationary in this position. The post Il is provided with a ledge I09 on which the edge of the lowermost record of the stack rests and which is inclined downwardly toward the rotatable post I03 so that at least the lowermost record of the stack is biased laterally thereby with respect to the turntable, that is, toward the post I03, the clearance between the upper end of the spindle 5b and the central hole in the record permitting the record to slide overtoward the post I03. The stationary post II has a. bend therein along its length, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and is so located on the plate I that the lower, or base, portion IOIa thereof is at a greater radial distance from the turntable 1 than is its upper end IOIb for a purpose to be presently set forth.

The movable post I03 is provided with a record supporting shelf III upon which a marginal portion of the lowermost record of the stack rests and which is on about the same level above the turntable 1 as the portion of the ledge l0! which supports the lowermost record, so that'the stack of records is supported-in substantially horizontal position. The shelf III does not extend all the way around the post I03, but is cut away at IIIa. Spaced above the shelf III a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of a record.

R is a shelf member II3 which also does not ext'end entirely around the post I03 and is formed with a cam edge or wedge II3a, the wedge II3a partially overlapping the shelf I I I and the member I I3 being superposed over the cut away portion Illa and partially around the shelf III as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Normally, the lowermost record of the stack rests upon the inclined ledge I 09 and'upon that portion of the shelf III which is shown in the foreground in Fig. 7. When, at the proper point in the automatic cycle, the post I03 is caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, the wedge II3a forces its way in between the lowermost record of the stack and the next lowermost record. Rotation of the post I03 continues until the cut away portion Illa has been brought to a position adjacent the edge of the lowermost record, whereby that record becomes free to slip past the shelf III, the remaining records of the stack then being supported by the shelf member II3. When the lowermost record has been freed from the shelf III, the inclined edge I03 cams its opposite edge downwardly,'so that this record becomes free to slide down along the spindle 5 and onto the turntable, the tapered portion 5b of the spindle gradually centering the record in it descent so that it will be properly threaded on the cylindrical portion 5a of the spindle 5 by the time it has reached the turntable.

Release of the lowermost record of the stack shown in Fig. 3 in the manner heretofore described. Thereafter, the post I03 is given a reverse, or clockwise, rotation whereupon the shelf member H3 is removed from under the thenlowermost record of the stack, permitting the stack to drop down slightly onto the shelf III for further support thereby in cooperation with the inclined ledge I09.

Staked or otherwise suitably secured to the motor plate I is a sleeve I I5 (Figs. 4 and 8) which rotatably carries a bushing II1 having a collar I I9 force fit thereon at its lower end beyond the sleeve II5. Approximately the lower half of the post I03 is reduced to fit into the bushing H1 and its lower extremity is slotted to receive a cross pin I 2|, whereby the post I03 is locked to the bushing H1 and the collar II3 for rotation therewith as a unit. The lower end of the collar IIIIis staked to an arm I23 which is connected to the lever arm 25d by means of a connecting link I25, the latter being pivotally connected to both the arm 25d and the arm I23. It will be obvious that, when the actuating lever 25 partakes of counter-clockwise movement in response to the cam flange 2 lb, it effects counter-clockwise movement of the rotary post I03 through the connecting link I25 to release the lowermost rec- 0rd of the stack in the manner above described. Similarly, when return, or clockwise, movement of the actuating lever 25 is effected under the influence of the spring 29, the lever 25 will act upon the connecting link I25 to effect return, or clockwise, movement of the rotary post I03 to its initial position.

For the purpose of initiating a cycle of automatic operations as previously described, a lever I21 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 65 through its hub I29, the lever I21 being supported by the trip lever 61 and being frictionally coupled to the trip lever 51 by means of a friction clutch spring I (II. The 'spring member I 3l is fixed to the lever 61 and comprises a pair of sub- I stantially parallel arms which embrace the hub I29 to frictionally grip the same, the frictional force applied by the clutch spring I 3I to the hub takes place in the cycle immediately after the I29 being adjustable by means of a nut and bolt assembly I33 so that the lever I21 will retain any angular position with respect to the trip lever 61 in which it may be temporarily set.

The free end of the lever I21 extends into the path of movement of a downwardly extending pin I35 on a cycle initiating pawl I31 pivoted to the underside of the motor plate I and restrained against free movement by a leaf spring I40. The pawl I31 is also provided with a second pin I33 extending down into the path of movement of the branch or extension 25a of the actuating lever 25, a shoulder III on the pawl I31 being adapted to abut against a fixed pin I42 on the plate I to limit the counter-clockwise rotation of the pawl I31, and a forwardly extending arm I43 terminating in a pair of angularly disposed faces i43a and H31) that meet to form a knife edge I430, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Cooperating with the pawl I31 is a tripping member I45 pivoted at I41 on the upper face of the gear I5 eccentrically thereto and constantly urged in a clockwise direction by a spring I49 which connects a pin I5I on the tripping mem ber I45 and a second pin I53 on the gear I5. The tripping member I45 is provided with an upwardly extending trip I55 which terminates in a second knife edge I51 adapted to cooperate with either the face I 43a or the face I43b, depending upon whether the knife edge I51 slips by the knife edge I43 on the right or the left thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3'.

When the pickup 5| is deposited on a record for playing, the lever I21 has a predetermined angular relation to the lever 61 such that movement of the pickup arm 49 across the record will cause the free end of the lever I21 to engage the pin I on the pawl I31. As the pickup arm 49 moves acrossthe record, the pin 63 will impart counter-clockwise rotation to the trip lever 61 which, in turn, imparts counter-clockwise rotation to the lever I21 by reason of the frictional coupling therebetween. In its turn, the lever I21 will impart clockwise rotation to the cycle initiating pawl I31 tending to bring the knife edge I430 into line with the knife edge I51 as the' pickup arm 49 causes the lever I21 to advance the pawl I31 a distance insufficient to dispose its knife edge I430 in the path of the knife edge I51. The knife edge I51 will, therefore, pass to the left of the knife edge I4 3c, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the outer face of the trip I55 will, by engagement with the face I431), cam the pawl I31 back slightly in a counter-clockwise direction,

this being permitted by the lever I21 since it is only frictionally coupled to the trip lever 61. Thus, the predetermined angle between the levers I21 and 61 is gradually reduced.

The foregoing action takes place continuously until the needle 53 enters the terminal groove 9 of the record, whereupon the pickup arm is I advanced a greater distance in one revolution of the record than while the needle was in engagement with the sound groove. The pawl I31 is, therefore, also advanced a greater distance than normally and, in fact, is advanced to a point where the knife edge I51, on the next revolution of the gear I5, passes to the right of the knife edge I430. When this occurs, the inner, angular face I59 of the trip I55 engages the face I43a of the pawl I31 and imparts a further quick and somewhat sudden clockwise rotation to the pawl I31, whereupon its pin I35 will engage the extension 25b and turn the actuating lever 25 in an initial counter-clockwise direction to initiate a cycle of automatic operations.

As a result of the initial counter-clockwise movement of the lever 25 in response to the pawl I31, the cam follower 21 is caused to enter the broken away portion 2Ic of the flange 2 Ib whereby the follower 21 is enabled to engage the .inner surface of the flange 2Ib. The parts are, of course, so timed and the broken away portion 2 I c is of such a length that the portion 2Ic will be opposite the follower 21 at the time that the pawl I31 imparts initial counter-clockwise movement to the lever 25 to initiate the cycle. Once the cam flange 2Ib and the follower 21 are in engagement, the automatic cycle will proceed as hereinbefore described to raise the pickup from. a played record, swing the pickup arm outwardly clear of the turntable and the stack of records thereabove, permit the then lowermost record of the stack to drop down onto the turntable, return the pickup arm to the appropriate starting position above the record, and thereafter to lower the pickup onto the new record for playing thereof. Meanwhile, as' the lever 25 advances in a counter-clockwise direction, the lateral extension ,25a-thereof engages the pin I39 to return the pawl I31 to its normal, or starting, position as determined by the shoulder MI and the pin I42, At the same time, when the pin 33 engages the cam edge 61d to swing the lever 61 in a clockwise direction, the, latter carries the lever I21 with it in the same direction. In order, however, that the lever I21 will not follow the lever 61 too far, so that upon playing of the nextrecord it will not fall short of engaging the pin I 35 and actuating the pawl I31, the lever I21 is caused to abut against a pin I6I during its return movement, and thus the predetermined angular relation between the levers 61 and I21 is restored.

The apparatus heretofore described is arranged to play only 10 inch records automatically. When it is desired to play 12 inch records, this must be done manually, and the index lever BI is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6. At the same time, the rotatable record post I03 is removed from the bushing II1. It is then possible to thread a 12 inch record on the spindle 5 by inclining the record downwardly toward the base portion IIJIa of the stationary record post IOI, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4, this being permitted by reason of the fact that the spindle portion 5b is tapered.

The base portion IUIa of the post If is spaced sufiiciently from the spindle 5 to accommodate a 12 inch record and, since the post I03 has been removed from its operating position, it is clear that there will be sufficient room for the reception of the larger record on the turntable. After a 12 inch record has been played, the cycle of automatic operations above described except, of course, that portion thereof involving the transferenceof a new record from the stack, will be carried out in precisely the manner heretofore described, and the record on the turntable will be repeated indefinitely.

Whether the machine is used to play 10 inch records or 12 inch records, the particular record on the turntable at any time can be rejected, or its playing discontinued, at will. This is accomplished by means of a reject lever I63which is pivoted on the motor board I on a pin I65 and is constantly biased against a fixed pin I61 on the motor plate I by means of a coil spring I69 which connects the pin I61 with a pin "I on the lever I63. At one end of the lever I63,

there is provided an operating handle I13 by means of which'the lever I63 may be easily operated. The other end of the reject lever I63 is normally disposed adjacent the pin I35 on the pawl I31, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to reject a record, it is merely necessary to push the reject lever I63 in a counter-clockwise direction against the spring I69, whereupon its inner end engages the pin I35 to rotate the pawl I31 clockwise to a position where the knife edge I51 will strike the face I43a of the 'pawl I31 and thereby initiate the automatic cycle in the manner heretofore described.

' From the foregoing description, it will be aption, there is very little to get out of order and the necessity for servicing phonographs according to this invention is, therefore, practically dispensed with. I

While I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications thereof and changes therein are possible without departing from the spirit thereof. I desire, therefore, that my invention shall said first named post, said stationary post having a ledge thereon inclined downwardly toward said turntable and upon which the edge of the lowermost record of said stack is adapted to rest, and said movable post including a record supporting shelf upon which a marginal portion of said lowermost record is adapted to rest, said ledge ,7

operating to cam said lowermost record laterally with respect to said turntable when said shelf is removed from under said lowermost record to free said lowermost record from said stack.

2. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, and means for supporting a stack of records on each other above and parallel to said turntable for successive transference to said turntable, said means comprising a pair of supporting posts at diametrically opposite sides of said turntable, one of said posts being stationary and the other of said posts being movable relative to said first named post, said stationary post having a ledge thereon in elevated relation to and inclined downwardly toward said turntable and upon which the edge of the lowermost record of said stack is adapted to rest, and said movable post including a record supporting shelf at substantially the same elevation above said turntable as said ledge and upon which a marginal portion of said lowermost record is adapted to rest, said ledge operating to cam said lowermost record laterally with respect to said turntable when said movable post is moved to withdraw said shelf from under said lowermost record to free said lowermost record from said stack.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 characterized in that said movable post is rotatably mounted, characterized further by the addition on said movable post of a cam member spaced above said shelf a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a record and normally offset relative to said stack, and characterized further in that said shelf extends around said movable post less than 360 whereby, upon rotation of said movable post in a predetermined direction, said shelf is removed from under said lowermost record to free said record for actuation by said Jedge, said cam member being so disposed on 

